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Planning a wedding in Europe is a dream for many couples, but understanding the legal requirements can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not a resident. Each country has its own set of rules, documents, and processes that couples must follow to ensure their marriage is legally recognized. Whether you’re envisioning a romantic ceremony on the Amalfi Coast, a chic Parisian affair, or an intimate elopement in the Swiss Alps, this A-Z guide will walk you through the marriage requirements for every European country. From documents needed to residency stipulations, and which countries support marriage equality for LGBTQ+ couples, we’ve got all the details covered to help make your European wedding a reality.
Disclaimer: While we have made every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the marriage requirements in each European country, this guide is not intended as legal advice. Rules and regulations can vary based on individual circumstances, including your country of residence or citizenship. We recommend consulting with the relevant local authorities or legal professionals to ensure you meet all the necessary legal requirements for your specific situation. Always verify the latest information directly with the embassy or official government sources before making any wedding arrangements.
Albania
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Both parties must be 18+
- The marriage must be performed by a civil authority; religious ceremonies are not legally binding on their own.
- Documents needed: valid passports, birth certificates, certificates of no impediment issued by your home country, if applicable, death or divorce certificates. All foreign documents must usually be translated into Albanian and apostilled or legalized.
- Check with the local civil registry office where you plan to marry if there is a waiting period, as that is sometimes the case.
- Two witnesses 18+ are required and should not be related to either spouse. Witnesses must be present at the ceremony.
Andorra
Non-Residents Can Marry: ❌
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents cannot get married in Andorra. At least one of the partners must hold citizenship or be a resident.
- Same sex marriages are legal.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (issued within the last 6 months), certificates of no impediment, proof of residency for at least one spouse, if applicable, divorce or death certificates, sworn declaration, translations of foreign documents into Catalan (translated by a certified translator).
- Submit all documents in person at the civil registry office.
- After approval of your paperwork, an announcement will be up in the Gazette for 15 days.
- A civil official will conduct the ceremony
- Two witnesses 18+ are required.
- The ceremony will be held in Catalan; a translator is allowed if this is required.
Austria
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Marriage applications can be submitted a maximum of 6 months in advance.
- Only civil ceremonies are legally binding in Austria.
- Civil ceremonies must take place at the registry office (Standesamt) or an approved external venue.
- Documents must be translated into German.
- Ceremonies are conducted in German. If you don’t speak German, you may be required to have an interpreter.
- Witnesses are not required.
Belarus
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married. Same sex marriages are not legal.
- Both partners must appear in person to file the application. Marriage can occur no sooner than 3 days and no later than 3 months after the application date
- Documents needed: valid passports, certificates of No Impediment (issued within the past 6 months and must be legalized), proof of legal stay in the country (such as a visa), if applicable divorce or death certificates (also legalized).
- If neither partner speaks Russian or Belarusian, a certified translator must participate.
- The ceremony will take place at the Registry Office or Wedding Palace.
- Two witnesses 18+ are required. Witnesses can be provided if needed.
Belgium
Non-Residents Can Marry: ❌
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- At least one of the partners must be a Belgian resident.
- Only civil marriages are legally recognized in Belgium, and they must take place in the municipal registry office of the municipality where one partner is registered as a resident.
- Couples must submit a “declaration of marriage” to the Civil Registrar in the municipality where they plan to get married. This must be done at least 14 days before the intended wedding date, but no more than six months in advance.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (legalized for international use), proof of civil status, and proof of residency or address. If previously married, divorce certificates or death certificates may be required.
- All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Dutch, French, or German (depending on the language of the municipality where the marriage will take place), and the translations must be certified by a sworn translator.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married without residency. Same sex marriages are not legal.
- Only civil weddings are legal.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates, Certificates of No Impediment, if applicable, divorce or death certificates, and proof of address during your stay in the country (a hotel reservation, for instance). Any documents not in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian must be translated by a certified translator and typically apostilled or legalized.
- You must submit a marriage application in person at least 30 days before the ceremony.
- Two adult 18+ witnesses are required.
- If neither partners do not speak the language, an interpreter is needed.
Bulgaria
Non-Residents Can Marry: ❌ (unless one of the partners is a citizen or holds permanent residency)
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples:❌
Overview of the process:
- Two adult 18+ witnesses are required.
- Non-residents cannot get married unless one of the partners holds Bulgarian citizenship or permanent residency. Same sex marriages are not legal.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates, certificates of No Impediment (must be apostilled and translated by a certified translator), a medical certificate issued in Bulgaria within 30 days before the ceremony (covering standard health checks, including blood tests and psychiatric evaluation), if applicable, divorce or death certificates.
- You must submit the marriage application at least 30 days before the ceremony at the municipality of the citizen’s residence.
- Only civil marriages are legal.
Croatia
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Residency is not required for weddings in Croatia, so non-residents can get married here.
- The ceremony will be conducted by a registrar and will usually be in Croatian. If you don’t speak the language, an interpreter must be present (at an additional expense).
- Two adult 18+ witnesses are required.
- You can get married at any location, as long as you have prior approval.
- Documents required: valid passports (copies required for your witnesses), birth certificates (issued within 3 months and translated into Croatian and legalized), certificates of No Impediment (also translated and legalized), proof that the marriage will be legally recognized in your home country, if applicable divorce or death certificates, if you are planning a church ceremony any religious documentation you may have.
- Get in touch with the local registrar between 90-30 days in advance. The registrar will schedule your wedding at least 30-45 days after submitting your intent to marry.
Cyprus
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents are allowed to get married; you just need to submit your paperwork in person. You must submit a Notice of Marriage 15 working days before the ceremony. This requires you to stay in Cyprus for 20 days total. There is a fast-track option available, which allows you to marry 1-3 working days after applying for an additional fee.
- Documents required: valid passports, full birth certificates (listing parents) that need to be translated into Greek or English and apostilled, certificates of No Impediment, if applicabl,e divorce or death certificates. All documents must be originals or certified copies.
- The ceremony will be conducted by a marriage officer or mayor, usually in English.
- Two witnesses 18+ must be present
- Ceremonies may be held at the town hall or a licensed venue for an additional fee.
Czech Republic (Czechia)
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌ (registered partnerships only)
Overview of the process:
- Residency is not required; non-residents can get married.
- Start by heading to the civil registry office to fill out a marriage questionnaire with the registrar.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates, certificates of No Impediment (issued within the last 6 months), if applicable divorce or death certificates, non-EU nationals must also provide a certificate of legal residence issued by Czech Foreign Police (no older than 7 business days before the wedding), foreign documents must be translated and legalized (some registrars may waiver this).
- If partners do not speak Czech, a court-appointed interpreter must be present to sign the marriage documentation.
- Paperwork tends to take 2-3 months to process, so start well in advance.
Related Reading:
– The Apostille Explained
– Best LGBTQ+ Destinations in Europe
Denmark
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Unlike many other countries, Denmark does not require residency for marriage.
- Only civil ceremonies performed by a Danish municipality or an authorized civil registrar are legally recognized in Denmark. Religious or symbolic ceremonies can follow the civil marriage but are not legally binding.
- Documents required: valid passports, proof of marital status, proof of residency (document showing your current address), If either partner has been previously married, you must provide official documentation of the divorce or death (including translations if necessary), visa or entry stamp.
- All documents in a foreign language will need to be translated into Danish, English, or German by a certified translator, and some documents may require apostilles or legalizations.
- Couples must submit their documents to the Danish authorities before the wedding. This is typically done online through the Agency of Family Law or via the town hall of the municipality where the marriage will take place. The processing time for document approval is generally 1-2 weeks.
- Non-residents will typically be required to pay a fee when applying for permission to marry in Denmark. This fee is usually around €225-€250
- 2 witnesses are required
Estonia
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- You must submit a written joint application in person at the registry office.
- Documents needed: valid passports, birth certificates, if applicable divorce or death certificates, certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage (from your home country, valid at the time of marriage and no longer than seven months old), for non-EU citizens: proof of legal stay in Estonia, apostille or legalization of foreign documents (must also be certified translated into Estonian, Russian or English).
- The marriage can be contracted no sooner than one month and no later than six months from that submission date.
- Ceremonies can take place at the registry office, a notary’s office or with a minister authorized to perform marriages.
- Ceremonies are available in multiple languages (Estonian, Russian, English, Italian, Spanish, Greek).
- Witnesses are not required.
Finland
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married, and same sex marriages are legal.
- Start the process by applying for a certificate of No Impediment through the Digital and Population Data Services Agency if one of you resides in Finland. If not, apply for a certificate of No Impediment in your home country (recent and must be legalized if not issued by an embassy in Finland or an EU/Nordic authority).
- Other documents required: valid passports.
- Documents must be translated into Finnish, Swedish, or English. If the translation is done in Finland by an authorized translator, legalization isn’t required. If not, foreign translations must be legalized.
- Two witnesses 15+ are required.
- Ceremonies will be held at the DVV or the district court. Religious ceremonies can be held if performed by a registered religious community or a pastor with the legal right.
France
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅ (but there are certain rules & requirements for ties to the country)
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- At least one of the partners must have lived in France for a minimum of 30 days before the wedding, and this must be in the municipality where the marriage is to take place.
- Only civil marriages are legally recognized in France. The civil ceremony must take place at the Town Hall of the municipality where one of the partners has lived for at least 30 days. Religious or symbolic ceremonies can follow the civil ceremony, but they have no legal standing.
- French law requires the publication of marriage banns (public notice of the marriage) at the Town Hall at least 10 days before the wedding.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (legalized for international use and no older than 3 months), proof of marital status, and proof of residency or address. If previously married, divorce certificates or death certificates may be required. A certificate of custom (certificat de coutume) that certifies the marriage laws of the foreign partner’s country, issued by the consulate or embassy. A certificate of capacity to marry from the non-citizen partner’s embassy or consulate, which may be required depending on the nationality.
- Any documents in a foreign language must be translated by a sworn translator approved by French authorities.
- 2 to 4 witnesses are required, aged 18+.
Germany
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅ (but there are certain rules & requirements for ties to the country)
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Only civil marriages performed by a registrar at a German Registry Office are legally recognized in Germany. Religious or symbolic ceremonies can follow the civil ceremony, but they have no legal standing.
- In most cases, at least one of the partners needs to be a legal resident of Germany or have a significant tie to the country (such as owning property or having family in Germany).
- The couple must register their intent to marry at the Standesamt in the area where they plan to marry. The office will then review the application and approve the marriage if all documents are in order.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (legalized for international use), certificate of no impediment to marriage, proof of residency or address. If previously married, divorce certificates (legalized) or death certificates may be required.
- A certified translation of all foreign documents into German by a sworn translator.
- The requirements and procedures can vary depending on the federal state (Bundesland) and the local Standesamt, so it’s essential to contact the Standesamt in the area where you plan to marry well in advance.
- If both partners are non-residents with no ties to Germany, it may be difficult to marry there, and couples should consider a civil marriage in their home country with a symbolic or religious ceremony in Germany.
Greece
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- There is no residence requirement to get married in Greece.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (with apostille and translated into Greek), if applicable divorce or death certificates (also with apostille and translated into Greek), Certificate of No Impediment (notarized and translated into both English and Greek), copy of local newspaper where your wedding notice was published or proof of notice posted at Town Hall in Greek (names must appear phonetically in Greek),
- You must publish or post a notice of intent to marry—one each for bride and groom—in a local Greek newspaper or at the town hall, written in Greek, at least 8 days before applying for the marriage license.
- After fulfilling the notice requirement, you can submit all required documents to the local Town Hall or municipality office.
- The license usually becomes valid after 7 to 10 business days and is valid for 6 months.
- You can have a civil ceremony at a Town Hall or authorized venue; the ceremony is usually in Greek and conducted by the Mayor. For the civil ceremony, two adult 18+ witnesses are required.
- You can also choose to have a religious ceremony, provided you submit separate document sets for both the civil and religious ceremonies.
- If you want the marriage to be legal in Greece, you must register it within 40 days at the local Office of Vital Statistics.
Georgia
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Couples must be 18 or older
- Same sex marriages are not legal
- 2 witnesses are required
- Documents needed: valid passports (valid for at least 6 months, if not written in Latin alphabet, a notarized Georgian translation with apostle is required), if previously married a divorce or death certificate is required (notarized), joint written application submitted at the House of Justice or Public Service Hall, entry stamp or proof of legal arrival (visa‑free entry or valid visa).
- Approval time of your application is usually within 24 hours.
Hungary
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- There is no residency requirement to legally get married in Hungary
- Couples must submit a declaration of intent to marry in person at the local registry office where the marriage will take place.
- If a future spouse lacks a Hungarian address, they may declare intent before a consular official, but both spouses must still submit in person, and only one person can use this route.
- A 30-day waiting period applies before the ceremony can be scheduled.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (authenticated and translated into Hungarian by the certified OFFI service), certificates of No Impediment, if applicabl,e divorce or death certificates.
- If neither partner speaks Hungarian, a translator is required.
- Two witnesses are required.
- Ceremonies are conducted in Hungarian.
Iceland
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- You must be 18+ to get married, and single
- Non-residents can get married legally.
- Documents needed: valid passports, birth certificates (originals or official copies), certificate of marital status (issued within 8 weeks before the wedding), death or divorce certificates if applicable, proof of legal stay in Iceland (passport stamps, valid visa, boarding pass).
- 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding, send or email the documents to the District Commissioner
- Arrive 5 days before your wedding and bring the official documents.
- You must have 2 witnesses 18+
- You (and two witnesses) must fill out and sign the marriage notification form.
Ireland
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- You must submit a marriage notification to the local Civil Registration Service at least three months before your wedding date. For non-residents, this can be done by post, but you must still meet the registrar in person at least 5 days before the ceremony to sign a declaration of no impediment.
- Documents required (both original and copies): passports, birth certificates, proof of address (is sometimes required for non-residents as well), death or divorce certificates if applicable. Legal documents must be legalized and have certified translations.
- Couples involving a non-EU national or mixed-nationality must also have an interview with the registrar before a marriage registration form (MRF) can be issued, which is valid for 6 months.
- Once notification is accepted, you’ll receive an MRF—this is your legal licence to marry.
- Ceremony must be conducted by a registered solemniser, such as a civil registrar, priest, humanist celebrant, etc.
- Two adult witnesses (18+) must be present.
- Non-residents can get married legally.
Italy
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌ (registered partnerships only)
Overview of the process:
- There is no minimum residency requirement to marry in Italy
- Only civil ceremonies or Catholic ceremonies are legally binding in Italy
- Same-sex couples can have a “civil union” but not a marriage
- Documents must be translated and legalized
- Ceremonies are conducted in Italian (or German in South Tyrol). If you don’t speak Italian/German, you may be required to have an interpreter.
Related Reading:
– The Apostille Explained
– Best LGBTQ+ Destinations in Europe
Latvia
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- No residency or citizenship is required, but at least one of the partners must be legally eligible in Latvia. This includes EU, EEA, Swiss citizens, third-country nationals holding a valid Latvian visa or a residence permit, as well as stateless persons, refugees, or non-citizens with legal residency status.
- Both partners must submit a joint application, which can be done in person or electronically to a Latvian registry office or diplomatic mission.
- A minimum waiting period of 1 month applies (and a maximum of 6 months) between the application and the ceremony date.
- Documents needed: valid passports, certificates of no impediment, if applicable, divorce or death certificates. Documents must be translated and legalized (or apostilled).
- Two adult witnesses are required.
- The ceremony will be held in Latvian
Liechtenstein
Non-Residents Can Marry: ❌ (unless one partner holds citizenship or permanent residency)
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents cannot get married unless one of the partners holds citizenship or permanent residency.
- Both partners must be 18 or older and not currently married.
- Documents required: valid passports, certificates of no impediment, and documents that are not in German or English must be translated by an accredited translator and legalized.
- Third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA/Swiss) must undertake a formal promesse de mariage at a Swiss embassy or consulate abroad, which will send the documents to the Civil Registry Office in Liechtenstein.
- Documents must be submitted no earlier than 6 months and no later than 3 weeks before the intended wedding date. Processing of the documents usually takes no longer than 2 weeks; there is no waiting period.
- Civil ceremonies happen only at the Civil Registry Office in Vaduz on Wednesday and Friday and are conducted in German or English.
- Two adult witnesses are required.
Lithuania
Non-Residents Can Marry: ❌ (unless one partner holds citizenship or permanent residency)
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Residency is required for at least one partner to get married here.
- Both partners must be 18+ and unmarried.
- Both partners must apply in person at the Civil Registry Office.
- Documents required: valid passports (or ID cards if EU citizens), birth certificates (issued within 6 months, with filial information), certificates of no impediment, if applicable, death or divorce certificates. All documents must be translated into Lithuanian and legalized or apostilled.
- If neither partner speaks Lithuanian, an interpreter must be present during the ceremony.
- Two witnesses must be present.
Luxembourg
Non-Residents Can Marry: ❌ (unless one partner holds citizenship or permanent residency)
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Residency is required for at least one partner to get married here.
- Both partners must be 18+ and unmarried.
- Documents required: valid passports (or ID cards if EU citizens), birth certificates (issued within 6 months, with filial information), proof of legal residency, certificates of no impediment, and, if applicable, death or divorce certificates.
- Foreign-issued documents must be apostilled or legalized per ICCS Convention No. 16 (if required) and translated into French, German or English by a sworn translator.
- Submit your documents at least 1 month before the wedding date, ideally starting at 2 months in advance or even 3 if you are not a resident.
- Marriage banns are published at least 10 days before the ceremony. The civil ceremony must take place within 12 months of publication.
- Ceremonies are held in the commune where one of the partners resides.
- Two adult 18+ witnesses are required.
Malta
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- You must submit your application at least 6 weeks before and no more than 3 months prior to your wedding date. After submission, marriage banns are published or posted publicly in a registry office for a minimum of 8 days, serving as official notice. The actual ceremony must take place between 6 days and 3 months after the banns have been published.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (either international or with apostille, parents’ info must be included), certificates of No Impediment, completed marriage forms (RZ1 and RZ2), Affidavit of marital status (certified by a Maltese notary if you’re residing abroad), if applicable, divorce or death certificates (also certified and translated).
- Ceremonies are usually conducted in English or Maltese.
- Both civil and religious ceremonies are legally valid.
- Two adult 18+ witnesses are required.
- The celebrant must register the marriage with the Public Registry to make it legal in Malta
Moldova
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married. There is no citizenship requirement. You must show that both are legally eligible in your home countries.
- You must submit your application in person at the registrar’s office.
- A minimum wait period of 1 month applies, and a maximum of 2 months.
- If one partner (or both) doesn’t speak Romanian, an interpreter must be present.
- Documents required: valid passports with entry stamp or visa, birth certificates, certificate of no impediment, divorce or death certificates if applicable.
- Translations and apostilles are required for documents.
Monaco
Non-Residents Can Marry: ❌ (unless one of the partners has citizenship or has resided in Monaco for at least 30 days)
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents cannot get married unless one of the partners has citizenship or has been domiciled in Monaco for at least one month or has been staying continuously in Monaco for at least one month prior to the marriage.
- You must post a Publication of Banns (Marriage Announcement) on the door of Monaco Town Hall for at least 10 days, including two Sundays.
- Documents required: a residence certificate proving at least 30 days of stay in Monaco, birth certificates (issued within 3 months of the wedding date), certificates of No Impediment, and if applicable, divorce or death certificates.
- Documents must be translated into French by a sworn translator, and in many cases, documents must be apostilled or authenticated by your home country’s consulate.
- Two adult 18+ witnesses are required.
Montenegro
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married, provided that at least one partner has a legal entry and stay (visa-free stay, tourist visa, or residence permit).
- Marriage applications must be submitted in person.
- Two witnesses are required
- Documents required: valid passports with entry stamp or visa if applicable, birth certificates (issued within the last 6 months, apostilled/legalized, and officially translated into Montenegrin), certificates of no impediment, and if applicable, death or divorce certificates. All documents must be translated into Montenegrin and legalized.
- 30-day waiting period after the application has been submitted.
- If you do not speak Montenegrin, an interpreter must be present.
Netherlands
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅ (but there are certain rules & requirements for ties to the country)
Marriage Equality: ✅
Overview of the procedures & paperwork:
- Notification of Intent to Marry (Ondertrouw) at least 14 days before the wedding date.
- Marriages must be performed by a Dutch civil registrar at a town hall or an authorized location.
- The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage, and non-citizens can also have a same-sex marriage recognized
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (legalized for international use), proof of civil status, and proof of residency or address. If previously married, divorce certificates or death certificates may be required.
- All documents that are not in Dutch, English, French, or German will likely need to be translated by a certified translator.
- At least one of the partners must be a Dutch resident or have legal ties to the Netherlands (such as a residence permit or be registered with a Dutch municipality).
- 2 to 4 witnesses are required.
North Macedonia
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- There is no citizenship requirement for weddings; non-residents can get married.
- Both partners must appear in person at the registry office to submit the application and for the ceremony.
- A minimum of 30 days waiting period is required.
- A public notice or a declaration of intent to marry is usually posted for one to two weeks. If no objections are raised, the civil registrar will proceed with the marriage.
- If either partner does not speak Macedonian, an interpreter is required.
- Documents required: valid passports or national IDs, birth certificates, certificate of no impediment, divorce or death certificates if applicable. Documents must be translated and apostilled or legalized.
- Two adult witnesses are required.
Norway
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Marriage applications take around 5-6 weeks to process
- Only an approved marriage officiant in Norway can legally marry you
- Norway requires statements from two witnesses. They do not need to be present at the ceremony.
Poland
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Submit all your documents at least one month before the intended wedding date, but not more than six months in advance.
- Documents needed: valid passports, birth certificates (with sworn translations into Polish), certificates of No Impediment (if those are not available, you can apply to a Polish Family Court for an exemption; if granted, the court’s decision replaces the certificates), proof of legal stay in Poland, if applicable, divorce or death certificates.
- Civil ceremonies usually take place at the USC.
- If one partner doesn’t speak Polish, a sworn interpreter must be present at the ceremony.
- Two adult witnesses are required.
Portugal
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Both partners must be 18+ and single, capable of giving consent, and not be close-kin related.
- Documents needed: valid passports, birth certificates issued within the last 6 months, certificate of no impediment, divorce or death certificates if applicable, documents must be translated into Portuguese and legalized.
- You must formally declare your intent to marry either in person or online, after which the Registry will process your documents and schedule your ceremony.
- Administrative processing can take 1-3 months
- Same-sex marriages are fully legal in Portugal, and foreign nationals can marry in Portugal without residency.
Romania
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents are allowed to get married. Residency is not required. Both partners must be 18+ and not currently married
- Documents required: valid passports (both the original and a notarized Romanian translation), birth certificates (translated into Romanian and apostilled), certificates of No Impediment (translated into Romanian), if applicable divorce or death certificates (translated into Romanian and apostilled), medical certificates (obtained from a Romanian family doctor, stating that you are fit to marry), the application form (needs to be completes at a Civil Registry Office), fiscal stamp (a 2 RON tax stamp, can be obtained at the post office).
- Two adult witnesses are required.
- It usually takes 10 days – 2 weeks for the application to be reviewed and documents to be verified.
Related Reading:
– The Apostille Explained
– Best LGBTQ+ Destinations in Europe
San Marino
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (apostilled and translated into Italian), certificates of No Impediment (may need to be legalized), if applicable, divorce or death certificates. All documents must be translated into Italian and legalized.
- If both partners have different nationalities they must declare which national law will govern their matrimonial property regime.
- Witnesses are required, but the number varies depending on the local registry.
- Some local registries also require a public notice.
Serbia
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- A marriage application must be submitted to the registrar. This can be either in person or a written application.
- Both parties must be 18+ to get married.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates, certificates of No Impediment, if applicable, divorce or death certificates. All documents must be translated into Serbian Cyrillic by an authorized translator and legalized.
- Two witnesses are required.
- An interpreter may be required for the ceremony.
Slovakia
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Submit all required documents at least 14 days before the ceremony date to the local registry office.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (issued within the last 6 months), certificates of No Impediment, if applicable, divorce or death certificates, and proof of legal stay in Slovakia.
- All foreign documents must be translated into Slovak by a certified translator and may require legalization or an apostille.
- If neither partner speaks Slovak, an interpreter is required during the ceremony.
- Two witnesses are required.
- Marriages are conducted as civil ceremonies and must be performed by an authorized official.
Slovenia
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents are allowed to get married.
- You should start the process 6 months to 2 weeks before the ceremony.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (issued within the last 6 months), certificates of No Impediment, if applicable divorce or death certificates (certified), legalisation of all public documents plus a Slovene translation by a certified translator.
- Submit your documents in person at a local Administrative Unit
- Expect for the ceremony to be in Slovene, translators are allowed.
- Two adult 18+ witnesses are required.
Spain
Non-Residents Can Marry: ❌ (unless it’s a Catholic ceremony)
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- One spouse must be a Spanish citizen or have lived in Spain and be registered (empadronado) for at least 2 consecutive years to qualify for a civil ceremony in Spain.
- You do not need residency if you are having a Catholic ceremony. You will need baptism, communion, confirmation certificates, and after the wedding, you must register the marriage civilly within one week.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates (legalized and certified translated), certificates of no impediment, and proof of residency.
- It will take 3-6 months to be processed.
- Two foreigners can marry under their own laws without residency at an embassy.
- Spain is recognized as one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries, and same sex marriages are legal.
Sweden
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married; there is no requirement for residency.
- You must submit an application at the Swedish Tax Agency to confirm that you are both legally allowed to get married.
- Documents required: valid passports, certificates of No Impediment (they may require a translation), if applicable, divorce or death certificates, and any documents not in Swedish/Danish/Norwegian/English must be translated; documents confirming nationality or residency status as required.
- Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks if neither partner is registered in Sweden.
- Two adult 18+ witnesses are required (can be provided for you).
- Once your certificate is issued, it is valid for 4 months, and the wedding should take place within that timeframe.
Switzerland
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can legally get married with the proper entry visa (Schengen Type C or National Type D Marriage Visa).
- You are obligated to start a marriage-preparation process with the local civil registry in the commune where the ceremony will take place.
- Documents required: valid passports, birth certificates, certificates of no impediment, death or divorce certificates if applicable, proof of legal stay, translations into the official language (German, French, Italian) and certified as needed.
- Once submitted, Swiss authorities review and publish a marriage notice, usually lasting about 5 weeks. If there are no objections, you will receive your marriage license, which is valid for 3 months. You can then schedule your ceremony.
- Two witnesses 18+ are required.
- You must have a civil ceremony at the registry office, which will be in German, French, or Italian. If needed, translators can be provided.
- Same sex marriage is legal.
Ukraine
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ❌
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can legally get married as long as they are legally present at the time of registration.
- Documents required: valid passports (with a notarized Ukrainian translation), proof of legal stay (eg, visa stamp), certificate of no impediment, if applicable, a divorce or death certificate.
- Witnesses are not required.
- You must submit a joint marriage application at a civil registry office in person; processing typically takes 1 month.
- In major cities, Marriage in a Day or expedited services are available.
United Kingdom
England
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married in England. There are specific visa requirements: the Marriage Visitor Visa.
- Same sex marriage is legal.
- You must live in a registration district in England for at least 7 full days before you give notice of your intention to marry.
- Both partners must attend in person to give notice at the registrar’s office.
- There is a mandatory wait period of 28 days (which can be extended to 70 days) after giving notice.
- You do not need to remain in the UK during the 28-day wait period.
- Documents required: valid passports, proof of residency (eg, a hotel letter), certificate of no impediment, if applicable, divorce certificate or death certificate; non-English documents must have a certified translation.
- Two witnesses 16+ are required and should be present.
Northern Ireland
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married in Northern Ireland. There are specific visa requirements: the Marriage Visitor Visa.
- Same sex marriage is legal.
- Both partners must attend in person to give notice at the registrar’s office.
- There is a mandatory wait period of 28 days (which can be extended to 70 days) after giving notice.
- Documents required: valid passports, certificate of no impediment, if applicable, divorce certificate or death certificate, completed Immigration Status Statement, Marriage Notice Form, evidence of your usual address (this may be abroad, like a utility bill if you hold a different visa than the Marriage Visitor Visa), and non-English documents must have a certified translation.
- Two witnesses 16+ are required and should be present.
Scotland
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Both partners must be 16+ and not be close-kin related.
- You both need to submit formal marriage notices (M10 forms) to the local registrar between 3 months and at least 29 days before the wedding.
- If you live outside the UK, you must provide a document from your home country confirming no legal impediment to marriage
- Non-English documents must be translated.
- If you’re from outside the EEA, you typically need a Marriage Visitor visa to enter the UK for the purpose of marrying.
- You can have a civil ceremony in a registry office or another approved venue, or a religious/humanist ceremony officiated by an authorised celebrant
- After notice is accepted and no objections arise, the registrar issues a Marriage Schedule (a licence to marry).
- There is no requirement to live in Scotland or the UK. Non-residents can legally get married.
Wales
Non-Residents Can Marry: ✅
Marriage Equality for LGBTQ Couples: ✅
Overview of the process:
- Non-residents can get married, BUT you must live in a registration district in Wales or England for at least 7 full days before you give notice of your intention to marry.
- Both partners must attend in person to give notice at the registrar’s office.
- There is a mandatory wait period of 28 days (which can be extended to 70 days) after giving notice.
- If neither partner is a UK, Irish, or EU citizen, a Marriage Visa is required. A standard visitor’s Visa will not allow you to give notice.
- You do not need to remain in the UK during the 28-day wait period.
- The ceremony must be conducted by a registrar at a licensed venue.
- Two witnesses 16+ are required.
